The National Service Training Department today denied allegations that they failed to provide immediate treatment for two trainees who died and another who was now in a coma stage.

Its director-general Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil said the gravity of the issue drew attention at a cabinet meeting and led to the formation of an internal investigation team.

"We have found that complaints stating the camp failed to send the trainees to the hospital were baseless," he told reporters after the launch of a social and reproductive health education programme (or sex education) at the Seri Perkasa Camp in Seremban today.

A brief report was also distributed to local media offices on the death of two trainees and H Tamilaras, a trainee in Negeri Sembilan, who is now in coma and hospitalized.

Tamilaras was on Chinese New Year break from Feb 1 to 6, but did not report back to the camp on Feb 7, said Hadi.

Admitted to emergency ward

He said the trainee's family had notified the camp that Tamilaras was given medical leave until Feb 13, by a private clinic, but the camp management advised that the trainee be sent to a government hospital to facilitate insurance claims provided by the department.

"On Feb 10, the camp contacted the trainee's father for further information and was told that Tamilaras was admitted to the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital's emergency ward on Feb 8," Abdul Hadi added.

He said before the Chinese New Year break, Tamilaras had been treated four times at the camp for fever, headache and sore throat.

On Feb 15, Mohamad Zulhaili Noraihan, a trainee at the Wawasan Papar Camp in Sabah died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital due to brain infection.

Abdul Hadi said Mohamad Zulhaili was deemed healthy and eligible to join the programme after undergoing a checkup in Kuala Lumpur.

"Following registration on Jan 2, he received treatment for a headache on Jan 24, followed by another on Feb 10," he said.

Pain did not subside

Mohamad Zulhaili was referred to the hospital when his pain did not subside, but was allowed to return to the camp with a supply of medication but was sent back on Feb 12, before he was reported dead several days later.

Another trainee Fatini Aqilah Fadhil died on Feb 13, at the Tunku Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh due to leukemia.

He said Fatini's health declaration form also didn't show any health problems but she had been treated three times at the camp for fever on Jan 18, 24 and 31, before experiencing high fever after Chinese New Year holidays.

Meanwhile, SPM school leavers chosen for NS will be given priority should they wish to further their studies at the National

Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM).

Abdul Hadi said Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi has agreed on the matter as response for the university was encouraging with 2,716 applications received from NS trainees only.

He added that the government would provide free accommodation, food, academic fees and clothing.

NS trainees to learn sex education

- Bernama